Handheld apparatus for vaporization of plant-based or synthetic compounds by laser

Abstract

The present disclosure is a handheld apparatus that vaporizes plant-based or synthetic compounds, for the purpose of inhalation, or diffusion into an external environment. More specifically, the disclosure describes a handheld apparatus wherein a laser beam from an internal laser unit heats compounds, such as dried plant, tinctures, resins, or essential oils, to the compound's vaporization temperature for inhalation, or diffusion as part of aromatherapy or other holistic therapeutic treatments.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vaporizer, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a reaction chamber defined within the housing; 
 a reaction cartridge disposed within the housing and configured to contain a concentrate material for vaporization, the reaction cartridge including a substrate and a reaction cartridge insert configured to position the concentrate material such that the concentrate material is adjacent to the substrate during operation; 
 a laser diode disposed within the housing; and 
 a lens aligned with the laser diode such that, during operation, a laser beam generated by the laser diode is directed toward the reaction chamber to heat the concentrate material within the reaction chamber, 
 the vaporizer being a portable vaporizer configured to receive electrical power via at least one of an internal battery or a wall plug; 
 wherein the substrate includes a microporous blackbody substrate configured such that, during use, capillary action moves the concentrate material through the microporous blackbody substrate toward a heat envelope. 
 
     
     
       2. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a viewport through which a vaporization reaction is viewable during operation. 
     
     
       3. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the laser diode is configured to emit a blue laser output. 
     
     
       4. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the lens is a single element lens. 
     
     
       5. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
       6. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a power regulator configured to adjust an output power of a laser diode output of the laser diode. 
     
     
       7. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink attached to the laser diode and to the housing, the heat sink configured to transfer heat, generated by the laser diode during operation, to the housing. 
     
     
       8. The vaporizer of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction cartridge further includes a spring and a plunger configured to automatically move the concentrate material within the heat envelope of the substrate. 
     
     
       9. A vaporizer, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a disposable reaction cartridge configured to be positioned within the housing and configured to contain a concentrate material for vaporization, the disposable reaction cartridge including a substrate and a reaction cartridge insert configured to position the concentrate material such that the concentrate material is adjacent to the substrate during operation; and 
 a laser diode assembly disposed within the housing and configured, during operation, to direct a laser beam generated by the laser diode assembly toward the concentrate material, 
 the vaporizer being a handheld vaporizer configured to receive electrical power via at least one of an internal battery or a wall plug; 
 wherein the substrate includes a microporous blackbody substrate configured such that, during use, capillary action moves the concentrate material through the microporous blackbody substrate toward a heat envelope. 
 
     
     
       10. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a viewport through which a vaporization reaction is viewable during operation. 
     
     
       11. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein a laser diode of the laser diode assembly is configured to emit a blue laser output. 
     
     
       12. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the laser diode assembly includes a single element lens. 
     
     
       13. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
       14. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , further comprising a power regulator configured to adjust an output power of a laser diode of the laser diode assembly. 
     
     
       15. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , further comprising a heat sink attached to the laser diode and to the housing, the heat sink configured to transfer heat, generated by a laser diode of the laser diode assembly during operation, to the housing. 
     
     
       16. The vaporizer of  claim 9 , wherein the reaction cartridge further includes a spring and a plunger configured to automatically move the concentrate material within the heat envelope of the substrate.